It’s official: Arizona is No. 31 for states with marriage equality!

A federal judge ruled Friday, Oct. 17, that Arizona’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. In a short opinion, U.S. District Judge John Sedwick, a George H.W. Bush appointee, referenced the Ninth Circuit’s ruling in Idaho and Nevada, concluding that Arizona’s ban was substantially similar and thus must also be struck down.

Sedwick also declined to stay the decision, saying that “an appeal to the Ninth Circuit would be futile” and that the Supreme Court will likely “turn a deaf ear on any request for relief from the Ninth Circuit’s decision.” As reported earlier, Attorney General Tom Horne (R) had already indicated that he was prepared for this outcome.

Though marriage equality is currently on hold in Alaska pending an appeal there, this makes Arizona the 31st state where same-sex couples can legally marry.